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23.8.14

When preparing for a new baby it's great to start early and stock up. I found that looking for the perfect feeding equipment was hard work. I will be mix feeding (between breast and bottle) and so want to get organised with buying everything so we don't have to worry when the bundle arrives.

That's when I found the Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Complete Starter Kit which is currently in the Asda Baby and Toddler Event. It comes complete with everything you will need for bottle feeding, plus extras to help out with night feeds and feeding on the go too.

When I was pregnant the last 2 times, I found that buying everything I needed for feeding became very expensive once I realised how many extra items you needed apart from the bottles. The Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Complete Starter Kit is currently on sale at Asda for the amazing price of £65 which fantastic considering everything you get.

The set includes:

Electric steam steriliser

Travel steriliser

Electric bottle and food warmer

150ml bottles x 3 with soft flow teats (Birth+)

260ml bottles x 5 with soft flow teats (Birth+)

Medium flow teats x 2 (3 to 6 Months)

Fast flow teats x 2 (6+ Months)

Milk storage lids x 4

Milk powder dispensers x 6 (Birth+)

Insulated bottle bags x 2

Bottle and teat brush x 1

Pure Soother x 1, Birth to 3 months

1 x Teat tongs

As you can see, a lot for your money.

The electric steriliser is great for hygienically cleaning all of the bottles whilst the travel steriliser will fit in one bottle and can be used in a microwave or as a cold water steriliser if you are out and about.

I used to hate having to find my way downstairs whilst holding a newborn and warming a bottle to the correct temperature so I know that the electric warm will come in handy. Small and compact, perfect to store in the babies bedroom to quickly heat a bottle up for a night feed. It can even heat baby food up also so will come in handy for weaning too.

I love the Tommee Tippee bottles because they have a wide neck which makes making up the bottles super easy. They are designed to flex and stretch to mimic the natural look and feel of mum's breast making bottle feeding and mix feeding easier.

Baby Boy number 3

The Tommee Tippee Closer To Nature Complete Starter Kit is on offer in the Asda Baby & Toddler event from today online and from Monday instore. Be sure to check out the rest of the event too as there are some massive savings to be had.

21.8.14

Buying school uniforms is hard work. Finding ones that are great quality but a fair price too. Ones that will last the bumps and scrapes that all children have and ones that will withstand the washer and dryer without going out of shape.

Aldi sent us a set of their uniform perfect for Thomas when he goes up to year 1 after the holidays. Sending us a pack of polo neck white t-shirts, a pair of trousers and a navy jumper too.

Amazingly, the cost of one uniform (polo shirt, jumper and trousers) is an amazingly low £4. How fantastic is that. But, does that mean that we have to swap quality for the cheap price?

Well no actually...

I like the fit of the Aldi uniform. The jumpers and t-shirts fit Thomas really well and the trousers are a great length so will last a while yet.

The fact that the trousers have a clip fastening means that Thomas can undo them himself when he needs the toilet. I usually always struggle with the sizing of trousers as Thomas has long legs and a tiny waist which can make it hard getting the correct size, but these fit fine.

To give this uniform a good testing whilst in the school holidays, I got Thomas to wear the jumper and t-shirt a few times whilst we were crafting, sticking and painting and then washing to see if marks would come out and how the material looked after a few washes.

The navy jumper was fantastic and came out looking new, even after a few washes and kept it's shape too which I was happy to see and usually cheaper items can go out of shape easily.

A few walks runs on the park proved that the trousers were capable to withstand the odd fall and graze without mark too and the polo shirts also washes well, although after a few washes the grass stains were a little reluctant to come off.

Overall, I am happy with the quality of the Aldi uniform and extremely happy with the price too. Visit Aldi to see the full range they offer and you'll too be amazed at the prices.

12.8.14

I am now nearly 16 weeks pregnant. Slowly getting past the sickness stage, as you all know, I was diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum which has caused me a lot of illness in the first stages of pregnancy. To be honest, I am glad the first stage is over and that I am now into the full swing of the second trimester as it means that I can enjoy my pregnancy a lot more now the worry is over and since the sickness is easing.

But, in my mind, never too far away from my thoughts, is the next bad stage that most mums will know about. Yes, heartburn. Getting heartburn while pregnant is very common and even though you'd imagine it as a bit of discomfort, in pregnancy it can be significant;y worse. Lucky us eh?!

Heartburn usually starts around the middle of pregnancy and slowly gets worse right until the end, sometimes even in to motherhood too. It's right at the point where you are struggling to sleep because your bump is wide awake, you can't get comfy and need the toilet more often than not. Well, lets face it, by the end of pregnancy, you might as well move your bed into the bathroom as that's where you spend most of your time.

The symptoms of heartburn are usually the feeling of a burning sensation coming from your stomach right to the back of your throat sometimes leaving an acidic taste in your mouth. Nearly three quarters of pregnant women will suffer from heartburn by the third trimester of pregnancy and one in three of them will also suffer with indigestion. This is where you may feel bloated and uncomfortable and get pains in your chest and stomach. All part of the joys of pregnancy.

You can treat heartburn in a variety of different ways such as:

Eating healthier, trying not to eat acidic foods

Using more pillows to sleep in an upright position

Keeping your weight down

For me though, I've found that the best remedy is to buy products such as Gaviscon, which I practically lived off during my last 2 pregnancies and no doubt will do this time round too.

Once you fall pregnant and have been certified by a midwife, you can apply for what is called a 'Maternity Exemption Certificate' which gives you free NHS prescriptions throughout your whole pregnancy and for the twelve months after that too. This then means that you can then get remedies, such as Gaviscon, on prescription to save you those extra pennies to spend on your impending baby.

Above all, try to keep stress free. Yes, pregnancy is a pain in the bum sometimes. Sickness, heartburn, constantly needing to pee. But you'll miss it once it's over, so remember to capture as much of it as you can.

10.8.14

This week I have started feeling a little better. I think my Hyperemesis Gravidarum at be starting to subside now. Well, fingers crossed anyway.

I still can't drink plain old water as I get nauseous at the thought so am still living off copious amounts of soda water and Coke, I think the fizziness helps. Although, I have found something else this week too which means I any finally drink coffee again.

These yummy Nescafé cappuccino sachets are unsweetened (perfect for me as I don't take sugar in my coffee) and are also decaf so don't give me that dizziness whilst drinking them. They are extra yummy too.

I picked then up in Asda for only £1.50 and they are truly scrumptious. It's amazing to be able to have coffee again.

Eating is getting a little better although I do seen to be able to eat better if someone else is cooking it. Greasy food is still a no no too but in getting there slowly.

As for my bump, I feel totally massive. I look massive. To look at me, you wouldn't believe that I'm just past the first trimester.

I do love it though, waking up and feeling bigger, feeling my baby growing. Yes, I may struggle some days with sickness and feel like it's the worst thing in the world, but I wouldn't give it up. My little bump is a part of me, a part of our family.

5.8.14

I am now 14 weeks and 4 days pregnant and ever since seeing my bumple of my first scan, I haven't been able to sit still, too busy wondering the sex of my little bump.

These are the pictures from my last scan, at 12 weeks and 5 days...

Now, can you guess what sex our little bundle will be? Do you have an inkling at all? Well here is your chance to guess and win our latest giveaway.

All you have to do is comment below letting me know whether you think we're having a boy or a girl and then fill your details in on the Rafflecopter form so I can contact you if you are drawn as the winner (and maybe get a few entry entries too). And don't worry, everyone who enters and puts in a guess will be entered, you don't have to be correct to win, it's just a bit of fun.

I have booked a private scan for the evening of the 22nd August and so this giveaway ends the night before and of course wont be drawn until after my scan.

Please remember to check the T&C's at the bottom of the Rafflecopter application and our full terms here. This giveaway is open to the UK only and any entries left that do not follow the mandatory entries will be disqualified. After the one compulsory entry of answering the given question the Rafflecopter will then open a round of optional extras, you do not have to enter any of these but these will give you extra entries into the competition.

And please, if you are commenting on the blog as 'anonymous' can you please write your name in the comment otherwise I cannot count your entry.